# Complex work dependencies and scheduling limits

*Agentforce Field Service and Operations Consultant Study Guide · Managing Scheduling and Optimization · Last updated October 29, 2026 · https://www.certifyforce.com/study-guide/agentforce-field-service-consultant/managing-scheduling-and-optimization/complex-work-dependencies-and-scheduling-limits*

Model multistage jobs with scheduling dependencies: set up complex work, pick Same Start, Start After Finish, Start After Finish and Same Day or Immediately Follow, and apply the engine-specific limits on chain size, all-or-none scheduling, territories, capacity-based resources and multiday work.

- Certification: Salesforce Agentforce Field Service and Operations Consultant
- Exam section: Managing Scheduling and Optimization
- Study guide: https://www.certifyforce.com/study-guide/agentforce-field-service-consultant

**Official exam objective:**

> Given a scenario, determine the appropriate option to execute Complex Work in Agentforce Field Service and Operations.

## What the exam expects

- Set up complex work, including the work order parent requirement and the per-territory switch for the legacy engine.
- Choose Same Start, Start After Finish, Start After Finish and Same Day or Immediately Follow from a job's sequencing requirement.
- Apply engine-specific limits: chain size (five versus two for Immediately Follow), all-or-none scheduling and how many appointments are enforced at once.
- Troubleshoot unscheduled chains: territories missing from the optimization request, pinned but unscheduled links, capacity-based resources and multiday appointments.

Key terms:
- **Complex work (scheduling dependency, multistage work):** relationships between service appointments that scheduling must respect.
- **Dependency type:** the logic relating two appointments, such as Same Start.
- **Dependency group (chain):** the set of related appointments in a service appointment's Scheduling Dependencies section.
- **All-or-none scheduling:** every appointment in the chain is scheduled, or none is.
- **Consecutive work:** appointments linked with Immediately Follow.

## Key facts

| Fact | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Parent record | Each dependent appointment's parent must be a work order | [Complex Work](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=pfs_complex_work.htm&language=en_US&type=5) |
| Setup | Update layouts, activate dependency types, enable for non-enhanced territories | [Complex Work](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=pfs_complex_work.htm&language=en_US&type=5) |
| Immediately Follow | Same day, back to back, same resource | [Complex Work](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=pfs_complex_work.htm&language=en_US&type=5) |
| Enhanced dependency group | Up to 5 appointments scheduled automatically | [Complex Work Considerations](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=pfs_complex_work_considerations.htm&language=en_US&type=5) |
| Legacy Immediately Follow | 2 appointments; error on a third | [Complex Work Considerations](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=pfs_complex_work_considerations.htm&language=en_US&type=5) |
| Enhanced all-or-none | Always applied to the chain | [Complex Work Considerations](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=pfs_complex_work_considerations.htm&language=en_US&type=5) |
| Legacy enforcement | Two appointments at a time, even with all-or-none selected | [Complex Work Considerations](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=pfs_complex_work_considerations.htm&language=en_US&type=5) |
| Multi-territory chain | Select all its territories in the optimization request | [Complex Work Considerations](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=pfs_complex_work_considerations.htm&language=en_US&type=5) |
| Capacity-based resources | Not assigned by scheduling or optimization in a dependency group | [Complex Work Considerations](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=pfs_complex_work_considerations.htm&language=en_US&type=5) |
| Multiday plus complex work | Not supported; scheduled end isn't calculated | [Field Service Limits](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=service.fs_limits.htm&language=en_US&type=5) |
| Emergency action | Doesn't support appointments with a scheduling dependency | [Field Service Limits](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=service.fs_limits.htm&language=en_US&type=5) |

## Check yourself

- Why can't the Time Dependency and Same Resource fields control a chain in an enhanced-engine territory?
- When does a pinned appointment stop an enhanced-engine chain from being scheduled?
- Why is the Emergency action a poor fit for an appointment with a scheduling dependency?
- Which resources can't scheduling or optimization assign to a dependency group?
- When does legacy-engine optimization treat the appointments of a dependency group as pinned?

## Sources

- [Complex Work in Field Service](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=pfs_complex_work.htm&language=en_US&type=5)
- [Considerations and Limitations for Complex Work](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=pfs_complex_work_considerations.htm&language=en_US&type=5)
- [Field Service Limits and Limitations](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=service.fs_limits.htm&language=en_US&type=5)
- [Limits and Limitations for Enhanced Scheduling and Optimization](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=service.pfs_enhanced_available_limits.htm&language=en_US&type=5)
- [Schedule Service Appointments for Field Service](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=sf.pfs_scheduling_appointments.htm&language=en_US&type=5)
- [Enable Enhanced Scheduling and Optimization](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=sf.pfs_enhanced_setup_enable.htm&language=en_US&type=5)

## About the full unit

The "Core concepts", "Exam traps" and "Worked scenario" sections of this unit, its 7 linked practice questions, and unlimited timed mock exams are included with the Agentforce Field Service and Operations Consultant pack (USD $19): https://www.certifyforce.com/practice-exams